What Is Wheel Alignment?

Wheel alignment is the adjustment and measurement of wheel angles against the vehicle manufacturer’s specification. It is often casually called tracking, although modern alignment can involve more than simply adjusting front toe.

Signs the Alignment May Be Wrong

• Uneven wear on the inner or outer shoulders of a tyre.
• The steering wheel sits off-centre when driving straight.
• The vehicle appears to pull or drift to one side on a suitable road.
• Tyres develop abnormal feathering or scrub-type wear.

These symptoms can also be caused by tyre pressure differences, tyre defects, road camber or worn suspension and steering components, so alignment should not be treated as the only possible cause.

What Do Toe, Camber and Caster Mean?

Toe describes whether the fronts of a pair of wheels point slightly towards each other or away from each other when viewed from above.

Camber describes the inward or outward tilt of a wheel when viewed from the front of the vehicle.

Caster relates to the steering-axis angle when viewed from the side and influences steering feel and self-centring. Not every vehicle provides adjustment for every angle.

Two-wheel and Four-wheel Alignment

A basic front-wheel alignment concentrates on the front axle. A four-wheel geometry check measures the relationship between front and rear wheel angles and is particularly useful on vehicles where rear alignment is adjustable or where thrust angle needs to be considered.

When Should Alignment Be Checked?

It is sensible to investigate alignment after striking a significant pothole or kerb, after suspension or steering repairs, or when unusual tyre wear or steering behaviour appears. Correct tyre pressures and sound suspension components should be checked as part of the diagnosis.

For more information about unusual wear, see our tyre safety guide and wheel balancing guide.